Mathematics for Data Science Pre-sessional Bootcamp
A four-week course to give you the Maths skills you need to meet the entry requirements for your Masters
To accompany the support offered to the under-represented groups that the AI and Data Science Conversion Masters Scholarship will benefit, the University of Birmingham is proud to be offering a Mathematics for Data Science Pre-sessional Bootcamp for all Home fee-paying students as an alternative means of entry.
This pre-sessional will enhance the accessibility of our courses by providing an alternative means of entry for Home fee-paying students who may not meet the standard Maths entry requirement of the below courses. The pre-sessional will equip students with the necessary skills for success on one of our courses, especially for non-STEM students who may have less experience of data handling and mathematics. You do not need to be eligible for the AI and Data Science Scholarship to apply for this pre-sessional. If accepted, the bootcamp is available to attend both online and in person.
Applications for the Maths Pre-sessional Bootcamp are now closed.
How to apply
This pre-sessional course is available to all Home students applying to one of the below courses. You can submit an application to participate on the pre-sessional bootcamp by using the application form at the bottom of the page.
If you meet the Maths entry requirements for the below programmes, your participation is voluntary and not a prerequisite for studying your intended MSc course. However, if you are unable to meet the Maths prerequisite of your intended course and your application onto the pre-sessional is successful, your successful completion of the pre-sessional's assessments will be a condition of progressing onto your intended MSc course. Please refer to your pre-sessional offer letter for full details.
What you will learn
Our four week bootcamp covers foundational topics in mathematics. Some of these topics will be considered as assumed knowledge for the data science portion of the MSc programmes within the scholarship. These topics are central to understanding the underlying principles of data science and machine learning.
- Introduction to Mathematical Notation
- Calculus and Rates of Change
- Probability
- Vectors and Linear Algebra
Teaching and assessment
There will be a bimodal guided study session each day of the bootcamp (excluding 29th August). Each session will have an associated canvas page which will contain lecture videos, notes and exercises.
After guided study sessions there will also be a Zoom office hour which students are able to drop into for one-to-one support.
Exercise sheets are available alongside pre-recorded lectures. Students are encouraged to discuss exercises with the relevant module lead or peers on the course.
At the end of each topic students are expected to complete a one hour take home test and submit online via Canvas. The test will cover material learnt within the topic. After each test, you will receive a score and personalised feedback.